HE may be used to the pressure-cooker environment in the kitchen of a busy restaurant.

And he may have featured in live television broadcasts where anything can - and does - go wrong.

But nothing could quite prepare top chef Andrew Nutter for a celebrity version of the Weakest Link and its "demon" host Anne Robinson.

Rossendale restaurateur Andrew, who has used his skills to help Blackburn College students in the last few years, was joined by a host of celebrity chefs, including Brian Turner and Antony Worrall Thompson, for the special.

The show will be served up to viewers in the next few months.

The 30-year-old owner of Nutters, in Edenfield Road, faced the so-called "Queen of Mean" on Monday night at a London studio, fending off questions about food and general knowledge.

And he admits he was terrified.

Andrew said: "It was the most nerve-wracking thing I have ever done in my whole life.

"Anne Robinson has set up this persona and she doesn't come out of character during the whole time.

"She is like a school mistress and she talk to you over her glasses. I was quaking in my boots!" Andrew, who played the game for his chosen charity, Manchester's cancer specialist The Christie Hospital, revealed that the contestants never got to meet Anne before or after the show - deepening her mystique - but added she took quite a shine to him.

He said: "The first time you see her is when the lights come down and the music starts and she gives everyone a five-second stare, which is really intimidating.

"She called me Nutter and said I was the most good-looking one. I was just waiting for her to put the knife in."

As well as facing Anne Robinson, Andrew had the daunting task of voting off other contestants - some of whom are his friends!

He said: "It's not like other shows, where the contestants don't know each other.

"A lot of us have all worked together on various shows and it was quite difficult."

Although an expert in the food field, Andrew admits to being lapse on the general knowledge front.

So was he the creme-de-la-creme, or did his souffle fail to rise? He said: "I can't say, and I don't want to spoil it for people. But I didn't do too bad. I impressed even myself."